The Transfer Tavern

Watford must seek to lure Gary Cahill to Vicarage Road next summer

According to a recent report from La Gazette des Transferts (via Sport Witness), Watford are interested in bringing Gary Cahill to Vicarage Road next summer. The centre back currently plays his football at Premier League giants Chelsea and has done so since 2012, although he has so far failed to feature for the Blues under new manager Maurizio Sarri to suggest that his future may lie away from Stamford Bridge.

And with his contract up next summer, Javi Gracia’s Watford, as well as Steve Bruce’s Aston Villa, are two sides reportedly keeping tabs on the £100,000-a-week Premier League stalwart (as per Spotrac), but if the Hornets do indeed win the race and seal a deal for the defender next summer, it could turn out to be a transfer masterstroke.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, Gracia’s men deserve huge credit for making an excellent start to the season in winning each of their opening four league games, with their 100% record only ended by a fine Manchester United display at Vicarage Road on Saturday.

Thus, the Hornets will surely be looking up rather than down this term and indeed beyond in a bid to establish themselves as a top-half Premier League club, and while they are currently well-stocked in the centre back ranks, they may not be come the end of the season.

And that’s because Miguel Britos and Younes Kaboul are both out of contract next summer and it very much remains to be seen whether the duo are offered extensions – if they aren’t, the Hertfordshire-based outfit will surely be looking to bolster that area of the squad, and they could do a lot worse than look at Chelsea’s Cahill.

The 32-year-old may not have appeared for the Blues so far this term following the arrival of Sarri during the summer, but one mustn’t forget how influential he has been to the West London club since his move from Bolton Wanderers little over six years ago, what with the Englishman helping the club to two Premier League titles, as well as success in the Champions League and Europa League.

And with 347 appearances in the English top-flight, there are few more experienced defenders out there than Cahill, but he still retains genuine ability in the centre back ranks given it was little over 12 months ago that he helped Antonio Conte’s Chelsea win the title – ultimately, he could still do a very good job in the top tier.

And in a Watford side likely seeking to move to the next level in the coming years, he would surely be the ideal addition, both on the field in terms of improving the backline, but also off it given his vast amount of experience at the top level.

Thus, it’s pretty clear that were they to add the 32-year-old this summer, it could well turn out to be a transfer masterstroke by the Hertfordshire-based club.